NEXT month's Royal Welsh Winter Fair is set to become the latest victim of Britain's bird flu panic.

Yesterday the government announced it would follow an EU directive to temporarily ban all bird fairs, shows and markets. The ban will be rushed into law "as soon as possible" and could be in force by tomorrow.

It means the Royal Welsh Winter Fair will probably have to cancel its popular poultry show on November 28-29. Last night Royal Welsh organisers said they were "disappointed" but were still awaiting details and would meet today.

A register of commercial poultry producers would be established, she said, and the possibility of keeping poultry indoors was being urgently discussed.

Mrs Beckett said bird fairs and shows could apply for an exemption. But a spokeswoman for UK rural ministry Defra said exemptions would be rare.

The news will disappoint scores of Welsh poultry exhibitors gearing up for the Winter Fair at Builth Wells.

Vicky Thomas, who keeps around 50 rare breed bantams at Llys Fair, Cynwyd, Corwen, said: "I go to quite a few shows and I had been worried about what could happen.

"I've already stopped going to bird auctions but I was planning to go to the Winter Fair providing there were no outbreaks of bird flu in Britain.

"People have already become very wary. We hatched 12 chicks recently but we've had no inquries which is very unusual."

Eleri Roberts, who exhibits bantams with her daughter Fflur, said they were already exercising high vigilance at their beef and sheep farm at Foel Trefor, Mynytho, Pwllheli. "Most of our poultry are kept inside and have little contact with wild birds," she said..

Earlier this month Welsh poultry breed-ers were out in force at the Welsh Federation Poultry and Waterfowl Championship, Builth Wells.

Show organiser Edward Page said he was "disappointed" at the ban..

He said: "A lot of people get an awful lot of pleasure from exhibiting their poultry.

"At the same time poultry breeders are responsible people and there's no way they would want to risk exposing their flocks to disease."

Earlier this week Wales chief vet Dr Christianne Glossop confirmed entire bird flocks would be culled if there was an out-break. The plans are contained in the Assembly's new contingency plans to tackle diseases like bird flu, as well as foot-and-mouth, Newcastle disease and swine fever.

Vicky Thomas added: "It is very worrying. I have some very rare birds, like Transylvanian Naked Necks: if there was a cull, it would be disastrous for these types."